Starching-machine.



No. 634,346 Patented Oct. 3, I899.

W. HESS, In. STARCHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 13, 1898.)

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STARCHING MACHINE.

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STARGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 13, 1898.)

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UMTED STATES PATENT Grates.

XVFNDFJLL HESS, JR., OF TROY, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. LEGGETT,OF SAME PLACE.

STARCHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 634,346, dated October3, 1899. Application filed October 13, 1898. Serial No. 693,421. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVENDELL HESS, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Starching-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in starching machines; and itconsists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to theaccompanyin g drawings and the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in front elevation of my improvedstarching-machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed fromthe left-hand side shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a central verticalcross-section of the upper part of the machine. Fig. 4: is an end viewof the sectional case for the feed-roll detached and partly opened. Fig.5 is a plan view of the roll, having an im perforate smooth metalsurface detached and without the shade-lines usually employed toindicate a curved surface. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the drum, havinga smooth imperforate rubber surface.

A is the main frame of the machine, provided with the supporting-legs A.

B is a clothed drum journaled at each end in a bearing-block B, movablevertically in the slideway A formed on the main frame. One of thedrum-journals B projects through its bearing-block and is provided onits projecting end with a gear-wheel B fixed thereon and adapted to meshwith and be driven by the gear-pinionB, fixed upon the hub of thedrive-pulley B, said pulley and pinion being rotatively supported uponthe shaft B, fixed in the frame of the machine. The drivepulley B isadaptedto receive a driving-belt in the usual manner, wherebycomparatively slow rotary movements may be imparted to the drum.

0 is a cylinder or roll journaled at its ends in the upper part of themain frame, with its journals 0 projecting exterior-1y of said frame andeach provided with a fixed pulley C adapted to receive a driving-belt,whereby comparatively rapid rotary movements may be imparted to theroll. The axes of the drum and roll are parallel with each other andthey are shown in the same vertical plane. The drum and roll are held inyielding engagement with each other by means of the weight W, which isadjustably movable along the arm of the rock-lever W fixed upon theshaft W rotatively supported in bearings in the frame of the machine.This rock-shaft is provided near each end with an offset rocklever Wconnected by a link W with the movable bearing-block B on one of thedrumjournals. By adj ustably moving the weight along its supporting-armthe engaging pressure between the roll and drum can be correspondinglyvaried.

D is the feed-table, from which the goods to be starched are fed inbetween the drum and roll. This table is supported by the uprights D andD, secured to the cross-rod or shaft B by means of the clamp-plates Dand screws D whereby the table can be removed when desired forconvenience in cleaning the machine.

H is the delivery table or box, which receives the goods after they havebeen passed between the roll and drum and which also removes from theperiphery of the drum any accum u lations of starch which may gatherthereon. The delivery-table is provided on its inner edge with a thinmetal plate H, adapted to engage the peripheral surface of the drum. Thedelivery-table is removably secured to and supported by the cross-rod Hby means of the uprights H clampplates H and screws H in the same manneras the feed-table.

Fluid or semifiuid starch is deposited upon the feed-table and upon thegoods as they are fed from said table by means of the nozzles F,depending from the overhanging supplypipe F, which leads from the rotarypump E the pump being operated by means of the belt F and pulleys F onthe pump-shaft and F on the shaft or journal of the feed-roll 0. Starchis supplied to the pump through the pipe F from the starch box orreservoir F which is located directly beneath the delivery table or boxII, the latter being provided with bottom apertures H through which thestarch which is removed from the drum by the delivery-table returns tothe reservoir through its subjacent open top. The severaldelivery-nozzles are provided with valves F whereby the supply of starchto the feed-table can be regulated. The pipe leading from the rotarypumpis provided with a lateral branch F leading to the open top of thestarclrreservoir F and a safety-valve F in said lateral branch pipepermits the starch to flow therethrough back into the reservoir when thenozzle-valves F are closed or when the supply from the pump exceeds thedischarging capacity of the nozzles F.

Fresh starch may be supplied to the reservoir as needed.

The feed-roll C is partly inclosed by the sheet-metal case 0 comprisingtwo like approximately cylindrical sections hinged together at alongtheir upper edges and provided with end walls C apertured at (1 toreceive and fit around the roll shaft or journals. The case is removablysecured in position to inclose the roll on the top, front, back, andends by means of the screws C inserted through screw-threaded aperturesin the frame project-ions C and adapted to enter the respective sockets0", formed in the end walls of the case-sections, whereby the case issupported and its sections held to gether.

The feed-roll C is preferably provided with a polished, smooth, andimperforate metal surface.

The drum is clothed, preferably, with a bed R, of soft rubber, and acovering of one or more plies of thin textile fabric R. hen desired, thefabric covering maybe omitted, as shown in Fig. (5. l

The feed-roll is operated with a peripheral velocity several hundredtimes as great as that of the drum, frequently as high as sixteenhundred feet per minute.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: The goods to bestarched are fed in by hand from the feed-table between the roll anddrum and delivered upon the delivery-table fully charged with starch. Asthe goods pass through they do not always or ever occupy the whole spacealong the line of contact with the feed-roll, so that considerablestarch is carried through from the feedtable and deposited on thedelivery-table, whence it flows by grax'ity down into thestarch-reservoir, whence it is pumped up to the feed table, as beforedescribed. The speed of the goods is the speed of the peripheral surfaceof the drum, and the goods are fully and quickly charged with starch inone operation. The peripheral speed of the roll being several hundredtimes that of the dru m and goods each portion of the goods is actedupon hundreds of times in rapid succession and the particles of starchdriven into the pores of the fabric with great force.

This

high rate of speed is made possible by the lubricating qualities ofstarch and the smooth even surface of the roll. The amount of starchforced into the goods can be varied by a variation in the relativeperipheral speeds of the roll and drum. The yielding surface of the drumpermits the goods to be partially embedded in the drum, so that thoseportions having seams and other normal projections will presentcomparatively smooth surfaces to the roll, whereby approximately thewhole surface of one side of the goods will contact with the roll.

It is preferable to use cold starch in connection with starchingapparatus for the reason that if hot starch is employed and allowed tocool on the goods it cannot be easily removed, making it almostimpossible to send the goods to the ironing-machine without an unevendeposit on the surface of the goods, which greatly mars their finishedappearance. It is, however, well known that hot starch will penetratethe goods much more freely than cold starch, also that the hot starchruns out of the goods more freely.

If sufficient time and effort are expended to work cold starch intogoods, they will retain more and be stiffer when ironed than like goodstreated with hot starch.

My new method of applying the starch contemplates using cold starch withcold fabric and at the very instant of inserting the starch in thefabric heating those particles of starch which are actually applied andinserted and successively heating the particular parts of the fabricwhich receive the heated particles of starch.

The parts of starch most heated enter the fabric and are partiallycooled before they can escape from it. No particles left on the surfaceare heated to such a degree as to become sticky or changed in characterupon returning to their normal cool temperature. This heat is producedby the friction of the roll slipping upon the goods and thesurfaceapplied particles of starch.

Since the goods are continually traveling with their supporting-drum,the action upon the successive particles is instantaneous and must beconsiderable to leave the starched goods warm to the touch, as is thecase in practice. This friction and the resultant heat can be regulatedby varying the speed of the roll and the position of the weight whichdetermines the engaging pressure between the roll and drum or goods onthe drum.

Various expedients have heretofore been resorted to for rubbing orbeating starch into fabrics, such as rubbing it in with the hand, theuse of revoluble heaters, and reciprocating mechanical rubbers.

I have ascertained that a smooth polished starch-feeding roll can besafely rotated in contact with the fabric with a peripheral speedseveral hundred times greater than that of the fabric, and that suchmovement of the roll upon the fabric and applied starch produces anappreciable frictional heat, and that such heat is .considerable at theline of contact between the roll and fabric, being sufficient to makequite hot both the fabric and the starch just as they come in contactwith each other, so that the fabric is in the best condition to receivethe starch and the starch to penetrate thefabric.

I have by actual experiment in practicing my improved method ofstarching fabrics herein shown and described caused starch to penetrateand fill eight plies of fabric superposed one upon another, the starchentering the eighth ply through the other seven plies.

In s'tarching goods composed of two or more plies of fabric, such ascollars and cuffs, a surplus of starch is forced through the outer plyor plies next the feed-roll into the space between theplies. The ply orplies next the roll are superheatedthat is, made hotter than the pliesnext the drum -and receive the superheated particles of starch morereadily, causing a slight accumulation or surplus between plies ofdiffering temperatures. As the goods advance between the roll and drumthe surplus is forced back and out, being wholly expelled and removedfrom the inner and outer surfaces of the plies by the pressure betweenthe roll and drum as the goods finally pass through. Thus in onecontinuous operation I am able to apply the starch to the goods, causeit to penetrate and fill the pores of the fabric plies, and remove fromthe inner and outer surfaces of the plies any surplus of starch.Furthermore, the movement of the goods and the smooth-surfaced feed-rollbeing continuous and at a uniform speed and pressure, all parts of thegoods are uniformly and fully charged with starch and the surplusdischarged.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting the carrier of the goods,which is provided with a yielding embedding-surface, to a rotary drum.

Any known movement of the bed to carry the goods past therapidly-rotating feed-roll is within the spirit of my invention. Theroll is preferably provided with a smooth imperforate surface to contactwith the goods. I have used successfully a roll having a polished bronzesurface in engagement with the goods.

In order to expel the surplus of starch from every part of the goods andyet leave every part fully charged with starch, it is necessary that thecontact-pressure of the roll and drum should be constant and uniformupon every part of the goods. To secure such constant and uniformpressure, itis desirable that the contacting surfaces of the roll anddrum should be smooth and imperforate, and I have ascertained thathighly satisfactory results can be obtained by the use of a roll havingan imperforate smooth metal surface, as shown in Fig. 5, and a drumhaving a smooth imperforate rubber surface, as shown in Fig.

6. The rapidity of movement of the roll causes particles of starch whichare carried by its surface past the drum to be thrown therefrom withgreat centrifugal force. To prevent the escape of such starch, I providethe drum or bed with end flanges B and extend the end walls C of theroll-case (3 within such end flanges approximately to the peripheralsurface of the bed or drum, whereby any starch which escapes from theends of the roll past the lower edge of the end walls of the case willbe arrested by the end flanges 13 What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a starching-machine the combination with a movable fabric-carrierhaving a yielding embedding-surface,and means for imparting to thecarrier comparatively slow carrying movements; of a cooperativechargingroll; means for imparting to the roll a comparatively high rateof peripheral speed; and means for producing and regulating a yieldingpressure between the roll and carrier, substantially as described.

2. In a starching-machine, the combination with a rotary drum having ayielding embedding-surface, and means for imparting to the drum acomparatively low rate of peripheral speed; of a cooperative feed-roll;means for imparting to the feed-roll a comparatively high rate ofperipheral speed; and a feed-table for feeding the starch and goods tothe roll and drum, substantially as described.

3. In a starching-Inachine, a rotary charging and discharging roll; andmeans for imparting to the roll a comparatively high rate of peripheralspeed in combination with a rotary embedding-drum cooperative with theroll; and means for imparting to the drum a comparatively low rate ofperipheral speed; bearings for the drum-journals movable toward and fromthe roll; and means-for producing a yielding pressure between the rolland drum, substantially as described.

4. In astarching-machine, the combination with a rotary drum having ayielding embedding-surface; and means for imparting to the drum acomparatively low rate of peripheral speed; of a feed-roll having animperforate, smooth polished surface cooperative with the drum; andmeans for imparting to the roll a comparatively high rate of peripheralspeed, substantially as described.

5. That improvement in the art of starching fabrics, which consists incharging with a uniform quantity of starch all parts of the fabric, and,at the instant of applying the starch, heating the fabric parts to whichthe starch is applied and the particles of starch inserted therein,successively and to a comparatively high temperature, substantially asdescribed.

6. That improvement in the art of starching two-ply goods, whichconsists in heating some particles of the starch and one ply of thegoods to a comparatively high temperature, inserting the superheatedstarch in the respective plies with a surplus of starch between them,and expelling the surplus from between the plies by pressing the pliestogether all in one continuous operation.

7. In astarching-machine, the combination with a supporting-bed havingend flanges, and means for slowly moving the bed; of a cooperativefeed-roll; means for rapidly rotating the roll; and a stationary casefor the roll having end walls located within the bedflanges andextending approximately to the bed, substantially as described.

8. In a starching-machine, the combination with the rotaryembedding-drum and feedroll; a feed-table; and a starch-reservoir; of areceiving table or box having abottom outlet communicating with thestarch-reservoir; a drum-engaging knife on the inner end of thereceiving-table; a pump; a supply-pipe leading from the starch-reservoirto the pump; and a delivery-pipe leading from the pump to thefeed-table, substantially as described.

9. In a starching-machine, the combination with astarch-rcservoir, apump, a supply-pipe leading from the starch-reservoir to the pn mp, anda delivery-pipe provided with a valved nozzle; of a lateral branch pipeextending from the delivery-pipe to the starch-reservoir; and asafety-valve in said lateral pipe, substantially as described.

10. In a starching-machine,the combination with a feed-roll having animperforate smooth metal surface; and means for rapidly rotating theroll; of a cooperative drum having an imperforate smooth rubber surface;and means for slowly rotating the drum; and means for producing uniformpressure between the drum and roll,whereby said smooth metal and rubbersurfaces cooperate to charge the goods with a surplus of starch and todischarge the surplus, only, from every part of the goods, substantiallyas described.

11. That improvement in the art of starching fabrics, which consists inmechanically applying cold starch to the fabric, and at the instant ofinserting the starch, heating the fabric parts and the particles ofstarch inserted therein, successivelyand to a com paratively hightemperature, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day ofOctober, 1898.

VEND ELL HESS, JR.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK C. CURTIs, C. H. WALLoW.

